Vacuum condensation pump



Sept; 9,1930. A. c. DURDIN, JR 1,775,425

VACUUM CONDENSATION PUMP 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 21, 1930 .rjLl/llililfi jgastas CTZZl/"ddigfi Sept. 9, 1930. A- c. puRbm, JR' 1,775,425

VACUUM CONDENSATION PUMP Filed Jan. 21, 1930 4 Shoots-Sheet 5 f3 22 v 2a 4 Shoots-Sheet. 4

FYIIVIIIIIIIIIIA'Q'V' A. c. DURDIN, JR

VACUUM CONDEN SATION PUIP Filed Jan. 21, 1930 Sept. 9, 1930} ill/(412107"! l l atentecl Sep tL Q,

.UNETED s15 AT Es AUGUSTUSC. nunmn, JR, or cincaeo, rumors VACUUM ooNnENsA'rIon Punt? "Applicatio i'flled January 21, 1930. Serial no. 422,434. i

This inventionrelates to vacuumlcondensation pu'mpsyand its principal object is the provision of a novel arrangement and com- 'bination of elements forseparatinglair and 1 5 other gases from Wateror other liquids and pumping the liquid to a boiler or other place. Thepresent invention has been designed par: ticularly for use in connection with steam heating plants, although itsuseis not limited 1c thereto, and. it is arranged to be connected with thereturns of the plant and operates to separate the air and otherigases from the Water of condensation and return the wate'r back tothe boiler. l

15 One object is to provide' no'vel means whereby little or any of the water is lost from the system. Apparatus of this character usually employsya rotary pump for creating a partial vacuum in the system and a centrifugal water pump for pumping the .water back to'the'boiler, and one of theolojects ofthe present invention is to'provide a novel'combmation of elements whereby the vacuum pump mayucontinuously operate at 1'65? maximum iefiiciencyi V Another object is to. provide a'novel arrangjelnent of pa'rtsini combinationwitha re;

:ceiver for the water of condensationand other gases :whereby a partial vacumn. i's

created in a vacuum chamber'and the Water, air- 01 gasesare movedfro-m thereceiver into thevacuum chamberythe airancl other gases Fdfis'charged from said chamber to the atmosphere and the water ispumped from said sirable places. Another object is to move the same 'or. substantially the same amount of Water into the vacuum chamber as the water edto create apartialivacuum in saidvacuuin chamber, whereby water, "airand other gases are caused to flowinto theivacuumichamber, from whlchthe water freed from the air and V a other gasfis pumped by acentrifugalwater pump back to the boileroryany'other de- .-forth and claimed; i y 4 r 1 chamber back to the boilerjor to other dea i I VQ se t'i e Q h U b k ine & o F g; 1 i i-11 ings, but are. father schematic and are insirable' place. It further consists ina vacuum condensation pump, as above set forth hav ing means for regulating the flow of water fromcthe. receiver to the vacuum chamber, whereby a predetermined. maximum volume 55 ofjawater may flwthrohgh said vacuum. chamber which is, capable of being handled bythe centrifugal.Wateripump. 3 a

It further consistsrina vacuum condensation pump. in which both air and water flow- 60 ing' from the receiver. are moved. into a vacuum .chamber by arotary vacuum pump and the water freed. of the. air is pumped back to the boiler ore other desired place by thewaterpump. i i

: It further consists in ,thewseveral novel features of construction, arrangement and combination oif'parts hereinafter fullyset .CTheinventionis clearlylillustrated in the drawings accompanying this specificatioiirin Whichy i r I Figure 1; is .a view; partly infrontelevation and partlyrinwvertical longitudinal section" of avacuum,condensationpump embodying 7 i th preferred formof the present invention, i the section being taken on the broken line f .l%;l,inFig,2; U r Fig.52 is a verticalcross section taken on tl1eline2+2ofFig.l; M y f Fig-a3 is a-horizontal section -.takeno n the k n il e a r-3 i Fig-.1; a Fig jtfisla horizontal sectionltaken on' the broken line gH iof Fig; 1;

1 Fig.6 isa view partly inside elevationand partly'in vertical longitudinal section illus- .trating a modified form of the invention;

The above drawings are not working drawtendetl principally QEO IItltQiPllIPOSe of .illus trating enrbodimentsoif the present inyention. I

Figs. '1 to, 5, inclusive, the reference. character 12,

nested .withthe returnsill: of asteam' heating 1' plant. iswell understood-,water ofcon- 1 densation ,"ga1randother gasesgenter-there: a yceiver," where the air; and other gases collect 99 I" adjacent the top of the receiver while the Water collects below the air and other gases.

Mounted upon the receiver 10 is the pump structure, illustrated generally at 12, which in the preferred form, has a chambered casing 13 in which is a pump shaft 14 journaled in suitable bearing brackets 15 located adjacent the lower end of the casing. The pump shaft is arranged to be coupled to an electric motor (not shown) or driven from any other suitable source of power. The pump casing 13 is usually formed of an upper and lower section bolted together along a horizontal plane co-incident with the axis of the pump shaft 14.

WVithin the pump casing 13 and formed 111- tegral therewith is the casing 16 of a rotary vacuum pump 16 which, in the preferred form, employs throwing water in its operation. The impeller 17 of the vacuum pump is of well known construction and is mounted upon the pump shaft 14. The throwing water inlet 18 for the water pump 16 opens from a water inlet passage 19 formed by a wall 20, preferably cast as a part of the pump casing 13, and having an inlet opening at its lower side which communicates with a water reservoir 21 partially surrounding the vacuum'pump and separated from the remainder of the interior of the pump casing 13 by top wall22 and a cross wall or partition 23. The cross wall or partition 23 may form one side wall of the vacuum pump 16.

An air inlet 25 through which the air passes to the vacuum pump is located adjacent the upper end of the pump casing 13 and is formed in a short horizontal wall 24 which defines part of an air passageway 26 which leads from the air inlet 25 to the air inlet openings 27 of the vacuum pump. The air passageway 26 is formed in part by an outside wallof the pump casing 13 and by other upright walls 28 formed integral with said outside wall. The air passage 26 is enlarged at its lower end, as is seen in Fig. 5, and the enlarged part is separated from the passageway which leads from the water inlet chamber to the impeller 17 of the vacuum pump by an annular partition member 29 having alternately arranged openings therein'for the passage of water and air to the impeller, as is customary, check valve 25 controls port 25.

In the operation of a vacuum pump of the water throwing type shown, water is admitted through the alternately arranged water inlet openings in the partition 29 and passes through the spaces between the vanes or blades of the impeller where the slu s of water are thrown outward by the centrifugal action of the pump and air is drawn in through the air inlet openings in the partition and enters the spaces between the water slugs and iscarried out by the slugs of water,

the water and air discharging into the water reservoir 21. The throwing water returns to the vacuum pump and is used over and over again, while the air which discharges from the vacuum pump passes out through an air discharge opening, as will be presently described.

Extending upward from the top wall 22 of the water reservoir 21 is an air passageway 30 which opens from the interior of the water reservoir 21 and leads upward through the top wall 31 of the pump casing 13, where the passageway 30 opens to the atmosphere or may connect with an air discharge pipe 32 leading upward for a considerable distance above the pump structure. A strainer 33 is sometimes provided at the top of the air discharge passageway 30 and serves to catch any foreign matter which may be introduced through the pipe 32 in case the apparatus is primed by introducing water through the pipe 32. It is preferred to place an outwardly opening check valve (not shown) at some point. in the air discharge pipe 32.

The cross wall or partition 23 may form one wall of the casing 34 of a centrifugal water pump 36 in which is'contained an impeller 35 mounted upon the pump shaft 14. The water pump 36 operates to discharge water freed from air through a discharge pipe 37 back to the boiler or any other de sired place. An outwardly opening check valve 38 is usually interposed in the discharge pipe 37 Between the top wall 22 of the water reservoir 21 and the top wall 31 of the pump casing is a chamber 39 which serves as a vacuum chamber into which water, air and other gases are moved from the receiver 10 by the partial vacuum caused by the vacuum pump 16. A water leg or water passageway 40 extends down from the chamber 39 between an outer wall of the pump casing 13 and the pump casing 34 of the water pump 36 and communicates with the inlet 41 of the impeller 35 of the water pump.

Extending from a point adjacent the bottom of the receiver 10 is a conduit or pipe 42 which is connected to the pump casing 13 and opens into the interior of the vacuum chamber 39 through a port 43. In the operation of'the apparatus, the conduit or pipe 42 serves to convey water or other liquid from the receiver 10 to the vacuum chamber 39. Extending from a point'adjacent the upper end of the receiver 10 is a second conduit or pipe 44 which is connected. to the pump casing 13 and opens into the interior of the vacuum chamber 39 through a port 45 which is located considerably above the port 43. In the operation of the apparatus, the conduit or pipe 44 serves to convey air or other gases from'the upper end of the receiver to the vacuum chamber 39. i

The port 45 between the air conduit 44 and vacuum chamber 39 is controlled by a float and When the valve is opened somewhatydue itfroni the vacuum chamber as fast-as it flows intothesalne; p g;

Whenthe valve 46is closed, theenti-re force of the vacuum is applied to the column of Water passingthrough the Water conduit 42,

to the rise of the water in "the vacuum chain her, anis drawni-nto thefvacuuni chamber through the air conduit 44:, and, consequently,

the force of the vacuurnis lessened upon the column of Water in the water conduit 42. 'Theparts are soproportioned and designed that thefloat valve is opened sufliciently due to the rise of Water in thevacuumchamber to a predetermined leve1) that the Water is caused to flow into the vacuum chamber 39 atthe same rateas the Water purnp'discharges the water from thevacuuin chamber.

T0 guard against an abnormal condition arising in which Waterinight enter the vacuum chamber fasten-than the water pump coulcl discharge it, an'air inlet 49 is pro tided in thetop wall of the "vacuum chamber 39, which inlet'is closed by a float-valve '50 connected to the float-rod 4'? by a link 51 having a lost motionconnection betweensaid flea trod, whereby the latter may move up-f ward hnd 'thereby open the float valve 461*.

a certaindegree before the'floatlopens the float valve :In case the water inthe vacuum chaniber39 rises abovea predetermined level, the heat 48 opens the floatvalve 5'0, .thereby openingthe vacuum chamber 89 to the outer; atmosphere, and the. vacuum in said chamber being reduced, i3l16 'VtCHUl11 pump becomes ineffective for moving water 1 fromlthereceiver to the vacuuin chamber ,unt'ilfthe water pump has pumped enough Water outof the vacuum chamber 391th lower the, level of the ,water; therein sufficiently to permit v the valve 50 to 1 close, after which the vacuum pump again builds up vacuuin in the vacuum" ehmberee" necessary to cause the water to flow from the receiver into the Vacuum-chamber. Usuallyjthe.floatvalve 50 is contained ina hou sing 52 at the end of which is an inwardly opening check valve: 531 consequence, there is no danger v oi the waterifloodlng the vacuum chamber a'nden- 'tering the air port 25 froni ivli ich it would be carried tor the vacuum pump and byit discharged through" the'flair passage 30.

Inasmuchas someslight amount of water '7 is lostQfromf-thewaterreservoir 21inijthe operation of the vacuum pump, Water pas, sageway 54 is PI'OVldGd'fI'OllTlll'lE water pump 86 to the waterreservoir 21 and the port" between said vva'ter:passagewayM and water reservoir 21 is'controlled by a float valve. 55 r having a'bafll float 56 Which is raisedand low 'eredby the water contained in the water reservoir 21. As the level of the water therein lowers, the float moves downwardancl opens the float-valve 55, therebyadmitting water from the water pump 36 to the water reservoir 21. i

{To guardagainst any leakagefronrthe water reservo1r21 back to the water pump, anupwardly opening check valve 57 is pro videdin the water passageway 54*. This {check valve 57 perinitsthewater to be moved through the waterpassageway54bythe inop'eller oi the water pu'rnp, biit prevents any return of Water tothe water pump through said Water passageway54. Thefreceive preferably provided with a pressure switch and a float switch, as is customary in' apparatus of thischaracter, for antoinaticall; starting and stopping the motor of thepuinp ing apparatus v 3 3 f The operation ofthei acuuln condensation pump above described'is as follows:

-T'he vacuum pumphav-ing been initially primed, which may bedone byintroducing water through the air discharge passageway 30, themotor' s started The vacuum punap 39, thereby creating a partial vacuuintherein which causes water in the receiver above the I lower end of the water conduitj4t2 to flow exhausts'the air from the vacuum chamber through said conduitand into the vacuuin,

chamber from-which it is discharged bj/fthe *waterpump 36." As the levelotthe ater ally rises in the vacuunrchamber, itjpar opens the float valve 46, thereby estahli communication between the vacuum ch amber and the upperportion of the receiver through airconduit 44, i a y As the watercontinnes to rise inthe vacuun charnber 39, the volumeof air drawn, into" the vacuum chamber increases propoz tionately to the extent thatthe float valve 46opel11s,"ancl at a predetermined position ofjthe' float valve,the flow of water-'into-aef vacuum charn'b'eris as great, or substantially Theair Which is exhausted from tl'iegvaeuuih chamber passes through'the vacuum pump passage SOanddischarges to the onter*at nmphere through the; air discharge pipe is to be observed that the water re-ent e as great, aslthe. Water pump capable-of i fdischarglng 1tfrom the vacuum chamber.

a'ndis discharged intofthe waterreservoir 21"frorn which the alrpasses throngh the the vacuuni pump jand is used {again and i againin conjunction with they nipeller to "I create the suction inthe vacuum chamber, 1

' 1 In-case an abnormal condition arises frvhich thewater flows int-othe vacuun jcharh her faster than the water pump can discharge it therefrom, the water rises in the vacuum chamber, thereby finally unseating the float valve 50, whereby outside air is admitted to the vacuum chamber and the vacuum therein is reduced. hen this occurs, the vacuum pump 16 becomes ineffective for moving water from the receiver to the vacuum chamber, during which interval of time the water pump discharges the surplus water from the vacuum chamber, and when the level of the water has lowered sufficiently to permit the float valve 50 to close, the vacuum pump again builds up vacuum in the vacuum chamber, thereby causing water to be moved thereinto from the receiver, as above described.

It is to be observed that under normal conditions, the level of the water in the vacuum chamber will remain substantially at a height where the float valve 46 is opened to such an extent that the flow of water to the vacuum chamber will equal or substantially equal the outflow from the vacuum chamber caused by the water pump. It is to be observed also that the vacuum extends to the air conduit 44 and to the receiver and places a vacuum on the returns of the steam heating plant.

In the modified form of the invention illustrated in Fig. 6, the mode of operation of the apparatus is substantially the same as that of the preferred form. In this modified form, the pump structure 13 is mounted upon the receiver 10 and contains a hydroturbine pump 16 and a centrifugal water pump 36 both mounted on a pump shaft 14*. Above the pump structure 13 is tank 13* containing a vacuum chamber 39 and a water reservoir 21 separated by a partition 22 The water conduit 40 to the water pump leads from the lower end of the vacuum chamber 39 and enters a chamber in the pump structure which leads to the inlets of the impeller 35 of the water pump, and the air conduit 26 leads from the upper. end of the vacuum chamber 39 to the inlet chamber of the hydro-turbine pump 16 The air discharge conduit 30 leads from the discharge end of the hydro-turbinepump and opens into the water reservoir 21 which opens to the outer atmosphere through a pipe 32 A float valve 22 contained in the water reservoir 21 controls a port through the partition 22 and operates to admit water from the water reservoir 21 to the vacuum chamber 39 whenever the water in the water reservoir goes above a predeterminedlevel. A water pipe 54 leads from the vacuum chamber 39 to the hydro-turbine pump and supplies it with make up water for its operation. i

A water conduit 42 and an air conduit 44 lead from the receiver 10 and discharge into the vacuum chamber 39, and, as in the preferred form, a float valve 46 is provided at the inlet port between the air conduit 44 and vacuum chamber to control the flow of water through the water conduit 42*. A check valve 50 operated by the float rod 47 a of the float valve mechanism operates as in the preferred form to admit air to the vacuum chamber whenever the water therein goes above a predetermined high level.

More or less variation of the exact details of construction is possible without departing from the spirit of this invention. I desire, therefore, not to limit myself to the exact form of the construction shown and described, but intend, in the following claims, to point out all of the invention disclosed herein.

I claim as new, and desire to secure by Let tors Patent:

1. A water and air pumping apparatus comprising in combination a receiver for water and air, a vacuum chamber communicating with said receiver, a pump exhausting air from said vacuum chamber, whereby water and air flow from said receiver to said vacuum chamber, and a pump for discharging water from said vacuum chamber.

2. A water and air pumping apparatus comprising in combination a receiver for water and air, a vacuum chamber, a water conduit and an air conduit connecting said vacuum chamber with said receiver, a rotary pump for exhausting air from said vacuum chamber, whereby water and air fiow from ss .l receiver to said vacuum chamber, and a p up for discharging water from said vacuum chamber.

3. A water and air pumping apparatus comprising in combination a receiver for water and air, a vacuum chamber, a water conduit and a valve controlled air conduit connecting said chamber with said receiver, a rotary pump for exhausting air from said vacuum chamber, whereby water and air flow from said receiver to said vacuum chamber, and a centrifugal pump for discharging water from said vacuum chamber.

4. A water and air pumping apparatus comprising in combination a receiver for water and air, a vacuum chamber, a water conduit and a float valve controlled air conduit connecting said vacuum chamber with said receiver, a centrifugal vacuum pump for exhausting air from said vacuum chamber, whereby water and air flow from said receiver to said vacuum chamber, and a pump for discharging water from said vacuum chamber.

5. hunter and air pumping apparatus comprising in combination a receiver for water and air, a vacuum chamber communieating with said receiver, a' centrifugal vacuum pump for exhausting air from said vacuum chamber, whereby water and air flow from said receiver to said vacuum chamber, and acentrifugal water pump for discharging water from said vacuum chamber.

lllli 6} A water and air pumping apparatus comprising in combination a receiver for water and air, a vacuum chamber communieating with said receiver, a rotarygas pump employing water taken from said vacuum chamber for its pumpingaction for exhausting air from said vacuum chamber, whereby ing water from said vacuum chamber.

8. A water and air, pumping apparatus comprising in combination a receiver for water andair, a vacuum chamber communicating with said receiver, a rotary gas pump of thetype employing throwing water for its pumping action for exhausting air from said vacuum chamber, a centrifugal water pump for discharging water from said vacuum chamber, and a float valve controlled passage 7 leading from said water pump and supplying flowing water to said rotary gas pump.

9. A waterand air pumping apparatus comprising a receiver for water and air, a vacuum chamber communicating with said receiver, a rotary gas pump employing water for its pumping action for exhausting air from said vacuum chamber, a water pump for discharging water from said vacuum chamber, and means for supplying said rotary gas pump with water for its pumping action from the water in the system.

10. A water and air pumping apparatus comprising in combination a receiver for water and air, a pump structure mounted thereon and containing a vacuum chamber, there being a waterconduit and an air conduit leading from said receiver to said vacuum chamber, a float valve for controlling the port between the air conduit and vacuum chamber, apump for exhausting air from said vacuum chamber, anda pump for discharging water from said vacuum chamber. 11. A water and a1r pumping apparatus comprising in combination a receiver for water and air, a pump structure mounted thereon and having a vacuum chamber associated therewith, a water conduit and an air conduit connecting said receiver with said vacuum chamber, a float valve in said vacuum chamber for controlling the port between the air conduit and vacuumchamber, a'rotary gas pump employing water for its pumping action for exhausting air from said vacuum chamber, and a centrifugal pump for dis-i charging water from said vacuum chamber. 12. A water and air pumping apparatus comprising in combination a receiver for water and air, a vacuum chamber thereabove, water and air conduits connecting said receiver with said vacuum chamber, valve mechanism for controlling the inlet port from the air conduit to the vacuum chamber whereby more or less water is caused to flow through said water conduit, a pump for exhausting air from said vacuum chamber, and

dischargingjthesame to the outer atmosphere,

and a pump for discharging water from said vacuuinchamber. i l l 13. A water and air pumping apparatus comprising in combination a receiver fol. water and air, a pump structure mounted on said receiver, said pump structure including a gas pump employing water for its pumping action, a water pump, a vacuum chamber and a Water reservoir, therebeing a water conduit and a valve controlledair conduit connecting said receiver with the vacuum chamber, said gas pump operating tOl exlhaustair from the vacuum chamber and dischargelthe. same to the outer atmosphere, and'taklng its water fromsaid watenreservoir and dischargs ing it back thereinto, and said water pump operating to, discharge water from said vacuum chamber.

i 14:. Water and airpumping apparatus comprising in combination a receiver for water and air, a vacuum chamber, a water conduit and a valve controlled air conduit leading from said receiver to said vacuum chamber,

there being a valve controlled air inlet for saidvacuum chamber controlled by the level of water therein, a pump for exhausting air from said vacuum chamber, and a pump for discharging water from said vacuum chams berr 15. A water and air pumping apparatus comprising in combination a receiver for water and air, a vacuumchamber, a Water conduit and anair conduit connecting the receiver withsaid vacuum chamber, a pump for exhausting air from said vacuum chamber, a pump for discharging water from said a vacuum chamber, and means governed the level of the water in thevacuum chamberfor controlling the volume of water and air enteringthe same.

16. 'Awater and a r pumping apparatus comprising in combination a receiver for water and air, a vacuum chamber, a water conduit and an a1r conduit connect ng the receiver with said vacuum chamber, apumpfor exhausting air from said vacuum chamber, a pump for discharging water from said vacuum chamber, means governed by thelevel of the Water in the vacuum chamber forcontrolling the volume of water and air entering the same, andmeans controlled by the level a of the water in, said vacuum ,chamber for admitting outside air to said vacuum chamber and thereby reducing the vacuum therein.

17. A water and air pumping apparatus comprising in combination a receiver for water and air, a vacuum chamber communicating with said receiver, a pump, an air conduit leading from the upper end of said vacuum chamber to the pump, a water reservoir into which said pump discharges air and water. an air discharge passageway leading from said water reservoir, and a pump dis charging water from said vacuum chamber.

18. A water and air pumping apparatus comprising in combination a receiver for water and air, a vacuum chamber communicating with said receiver, a pump, an air conduit leading from the upper end of said vacuum chamber to said pump, and having a check valve at its upper end for controlling the port from the vacuum chamber to the air conduit. a water reservoir into which said pump discharges air and water, an air discharge passageway leading from said water reservoir, and a pump discharging water from said vacuum chamber.

19. The combination with a receiver for receiving water and air from a steam heating system, of a vacuum chamber communicating with said receiver through separate water and air conduits, a rotary pump employing water for its pumping action, said pump being connected to and operating to exhaust air from said vacuum chamber by the suction and displacement action of water in the pump, and a pump connected to and operating to withdraw water from said vacuum chamber. 7

20. The combination with a receiver for receiving water and air from a steam heating system, of a vacuum chamber communicating therewith, a rotary pump employing water for its pumping action, said pump being connected to and operating to exhaust air from said vacuum chamber, a connection for supplying water from said vacuum chamber to said pump, and a pump acting to Withdraw water from said vacuum chamber.

21. An apparatus for use in connection with the returns of a vacuum steam heating system comprising a receiver, a vacuum chamber located thereabove and communicating with the same, a pump for exhausting air from said vacuum chamber, a pump for discharging water from said vacuum chamber, and means for holding a partial vacuum in said vacuum chamber when the pumps are not in operation.

22. A water and air pumping apparatus comprising in combination a receiver for water and air, a vacuum chamber communicating with said receiver, a rotary gas pump using water for its pumping action for exhausting air from said vacuum chamber whereby water is drawn thereinto from said receiver, a water reservoir for supplying water to said pump and for receiving water and air discharged by said pump, there being an air discharge passageway leading from said water reservoir, a water pump, the inlet of which communicates with said vacuum chamber, and means for supplying water to said water reservoir.

23. A water and air pumping apparatus comprising in combination a receiver for water and air, a vacuum chamber communicating with said receiver, a rotary pump using water for its pumping action for exhausting air from said vacuum chamber whereby water is drawn thereinto from said receiver, a water reservoir for supplying Water to said pump and for receiving water and air discharged by said pump, there being an air discharge passageway leading from said water reservoir, a centrifugal water pump, the inlet of which communicates with said vacuum chamber, and there being a water passage between the water pump and water reservoir, and a float valve in said water reservoir for controlling the admission of water from said water pump to said water reservoir.

AUGUSTUS O. DURDIN, Jn. 

